OTTAWA — Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada and the U.S. are working on plans to deal with what she calls an inevitable increase in cross-border traffic as economies in both countries emerge from their pandemic-induced comas.
Freeland says traffic over the shared border is bound to increase as states and provinces reopen shuttered businesses and ease restrictions on personal mobility, even if the current Canada-U.S. ban on non-essential travel remains unchanged.
That agreement, which has allowed essential workers and trade shipments to continue to move back and forth between the two countries, was first imposed in March and is set to expire on May 21.
Freeland says discussions about when and how to begin easing those restrictions are ongoing, both between Canada and the U.S. and between the federal government and the provinces.
She says Canada will adhere to the same prudent and sensible approach that has guided it throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
And she says the premiers “by and large” share the same cautious view as the federal government.
“Inevitably, as our economies start to open up … even absent a single change in Canada’s border restrictions, we will see more travel across the border — we’ll see more Canadians choosing to go back and forth, and we’ll see more business activity, which will mean more essential travel,” Freeland said.
“That does mean that the federal government will need to do even more at all of our borders to keep Canadians safe and well, and that is something that we are working on right now, and we’re very focused on.”
On Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford made crystal clear how he feels about the prospect of allowing visitors to Ontario from the U.S., where COVID-19 has exacted a brutal toll: more than a million active cases and 81,000 deaths to date.
“I do not want those borders open,” Ford said, noting that his counterparts in Quebec and B.C. feel the same way.
Screening at airports and border crossings will need to increase “tenfold” once the restrictions are lifted, he added.
Dont open the borders too early
Damn crazy.
Of all the commentators on here, do any of you know a person who has become very sick with covid, just wondering
Please do NOT open our borders to the US!!!
Please leave Canada/US borders closed.
Enough already keep the borders close 😡
Ontario borders should stay closed all summer. United states needs to get their shit together before we think of allowing visitors here. Especially from Michigan.
Did anyone read the article? They’re not opening the borders…
Crazy
Don’t open the borders!!
KEEP THEM OUT !!
Please do not open them yet. USA does not have the virus under control yet.
Post all the comments you want n say what you want . the government is the one that makes the decision . so we can all say what we want. Hell i voices dont matter to them . we dont like it stay home.
We haven’t even opened ourselves up yet but let’s talk international travel? Brilliant.
Keep the borders closed!
Ya and now there’s cases of Covid in the White House!! Lmao!!
I hope the Canada/ US border opens soon so my Dad & stepmom can come visit & vice versa.
No traveling should be allowed for many many months unless it’s with in your own country!!! Especially the USA where they’ve had the most cases and deaths .. obviously due to it being super populated, Very poor decision 🙁
That cannot happen, we cannot be cooped up forever….some slack has to happen….
Open them !
for what reason? Think….with logic that is.
Keep the boarders closed!!!!!!!!😡
Way too early !! Please keep the boarder closed. 💯
So with this Covid – 19 still going on I wonder if Trudeau is still letting illegals in.
Jim Sweezey never stopped
Mandi Harvey Probably not.
& I’m planning to go to Meijers when it opens! 😀 hew can’t wait
While you`re there, just stay there …
Free world 😀
Until you make one of your loved ones sick.
So…if it happens, maybe it`s time for Canadians to protest? With masks on of course, and staying at least 6 feet apart. We might need to block the Border?
Lesly Boyle Hill 🙄🙄
Emma Marisa Really?
Lesly Boyle Hill yes really!
Ridiculous. You’re speaking out of both sides of your mouth. You don’t want the borders to open because Americans are just so terrible and going to infect us all but you want to rally and protest – everyone going to stay 6 feet apart? Use our tax dollars and police resource 🙄🙄🙄
It’s not a solution.
Keep the borders closed!
Please dont open border
No!!! Trump is psycho. Michigan Republicans bat shit crazy.
I agree it’s probably a little too soon to be opening the border just yet. With Trudeau in control he will probably do whatever is worst for Canada.
American here – please save yourselves and keep your borders closed. My country has lost its freaking mind. Steer clear of us – it’s not worth the cheap gas and smokes!
Andrus Hickson thank you for understanding
We dont want your smokes no offence and our gas is pretty cheap right now
Glad some American has a brain. I feel sorry for you Andrus. Hope you stay safe and healthy.
Really! Why did we even try. Crossing into the US is a bad idea. There numbers are huge and they shouldn’t be allowed to come into our country. Our government needs to grow a pair and keep the border closed
Wow, that’s asking for trouble
For the love of god…please keep the border closed.
Don’t open the borders yet, way too soon
Don’t open the border ! Too soon.
Sandra Frechette I have to say amen to that.
Second wave
Nobody in their right mind would travel into Michigan at this time.
Marilyn Nirkkola the problem is those NOT in their right mind who would travel here from Michigan which is a raging hotbed of infection
Marilyn yup that’s the problem people don’t think. I know lots of people who can’t wait to cross the boarder.
Marilyn, I mean I can’t wait but I wouldn’t be stupid and go this soon… That’s just irresponsible and ignorant!!
exciting news!
Such a wrong decision to open the US/Canada border….please do not do it!
America is doing little to flatten the curve and are we going to waste all our efforts by allowing non essential travel to occur? Our infection came from America and we do not want it to happen again.
Nancy Rowlinson Just out of curiosity how do you know where the infection came from ?
Don’t open the borders the US has a raging pandemic going on…let’s not make the same mistakes that brought COVID-19 here in the first place😡
Don’t open borders
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